Wednesday, July 27, 2011

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”
Mark Twain

The 1st of August - Switzerland's National Day - is celebrated everywhere, as it always has been, with meetings in town squares, fetes, fireworks and bonfires. Swiss flags wave all over the country, folk and traditional music enlivens the entire day, while kids have fun setting off firecrackers and parading through the villages with traditional lanterns.

The institution of the National Celebration Day dates back to 1891, but it actually celebrates an event 700 years old and indeed, the heart of the celebrations is based on a tradition more than a thousand years old. To celebrate the homeland, this day was chosen because right on the 1st of August 1291, three of the alpine cantons (Uri, Schwitz and Unterwalden) vowed to be faithfull to the Confederation, the act considered as the foundation of Switzerland and which took place on Grütli field, overlooking the Vierwaldstättersee.

National Holiday Celebration of Monday, August 1st and Fireworks in Lugano:

06.00 Reveille with the Drums
10.15 Meeting of the authorities in the Patio of the Town Council
10.30 Laying of the wreath at the Monument of Independence
11.00 Concert of the Castagnola Philharmonic Orchestra in Piazza della Riforma
20.30 Meeting of the Authorities and Associations of Via Nassa
20.45 Departure of the cortege of the Authorities (Route: Via Nassa, Piazza Battaglini, Riva Vela, Rivetta Tell, Via Canova, Via degli Albrizzi, Piazza Manzoni, Piazza Riforma)
21.15 Commemorative speech
21.45 Concert in Piazza della Riforma by the Civic Philharmonic of Lugano
22.30 Grand fireworks display

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Things I've learned from my children:

Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not like ovens.

The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earth worms dizzy. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

Super glue is forever.

Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence.

Certain LEGOs will pass through the digestive Tract of a four year old.

A six year old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36 year old man says they can only do it in the movies. A magnifying glass can start a fire, even on an overcast day.

Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh," it's already too late.

You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using the ceiling fan as a bat, you Have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't Stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. foot house 4 inches deep.

If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the Motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 by 20 foot room.